Apparatus for handling materials



Jv H. VICKERS Nov. 24, 1931.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATERIALS Filed June 29, 1927 '7 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATERIALS Filed June 29, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 NOV. 24, 1931. v c s 1,833,385

J. H. VICKERS Nov. 24, 1931.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATERIALS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 29, 1927 J w sw v3 N NN M ATTORNEY Nov. 24, 1931. J. H. VICKERS APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATERIALS Filed June 29, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 v v D v TMW w HHHM HHHMHHMHHa Q m M m h Nov. 24, 1931.-

J. H. VICKERS APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATERIALS Filed June 29, 1927 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ill 4 INVENT BYW H ATTORN M Nov. 24, 1931. I J. H. vlcKERs 1,833,385

APPARATUS' FOR HANDLING MATERIALS Filed June 29, 1927 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Jgu. W 54 %&M W

ATTORNEY Nov. 24, 1931. J H. VICKERS 1,833,385

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATERIALS Filed June 29, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 ATTORN Patented Nbv. 24, 1931' H l outta!) STATES PATENT mce- JOHN H. vIoKEnsQoF HUDSON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR To DA ID s. BAVKER, on

GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT I APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATERIALS Application filed June 29,

This invention relates to apparatus for handling materials, and aims to facilitate the movement, and more particularly the treatment, ofmaterials. 1

The invention relates to apparatus of th type described and claimed in the co-pending application-of David S. Baker, filed June 27,- 1928,-Serial No. 647,964, in which a number of collapsible carriers, each provided with Q a number of carrying elements are moved in 1 p I loadlng ps1t10n and the'ralls supporting it on'the line such manner as tov place the carrying elements in edge-to-edge relation at the loading station, and then in superimposed relation" in a treatment space; and more particularly to an improved apparatus of the same type described in the 'co-pending application of. David S. Baker and Bjornulf Johnsen, filed March 24, 1927, Serial No. 177,867, in which the carriers are" inclined, so as to place their carrying elements in steppedrelation in the treatment space, and are moved outwardly along one setof tracks and inwardly along another set of tracks located either above or below the first set. The present invention aims to improve, simplify, and increase the capacity of the handling apparatus shown in the aforesaid applications, and more particularly to pro-f vide a simple and convenlent apparatus for; transferring collapsible carriers from one set of tracks to another without changing the relative position of the carrying elements of each carrier, and to maintain such carrying elements in stepped relation during the transfer; and to provide means for positively controlling the movement of each of a number of such carriers throughout a closed circuit.

Other objects and advantagesof the invention are hereinafter describedin connection with a detailed-description of a practical ap paratus embodying the inventionand shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1A, 1B and 1C are the front, middle.

and rear parts of a partly diagrammatic side 1927. Serial No. 202,197.

vator sectioned on the i central longitudinal plane of the apparatus;

Figs and 5 are detailedviews of one of: the chain casings for holding' down a part of the load conveyer; Fig. 4. being aside elevation of the casing; and'Fig. 5. an end view Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevationof the apparatustaken on the line 6+6 of Fig. 1A; l 7

Fig.7 1s a plan view showing a carrier in Fig. 8 is a transverse section 8-8 of Fig. 7; and

views of the mechanism for controlling'the movementof the elevator; Fig. 9 being a side" elevation ofone of the cams andhooks of.

the elevator stopping mechanism, th e shafts: being sectioned on the line 99 'of-Fig. 10 N Fig. l O being abroken horizontal section on the line 10 -10 of Fig lC.;',and Fig. 11 a side viewot the gears operating the drive forthe elevator. p

The apparatus illustrated numberof collapsible carriers 10, each'pror.

vided with 'a plurality of carrying elements. such as trays 20, and means for movingthese carriers in a closed circuit. which, takes each tray past a .loading station L, through a. treatment space T', to a-dumpingjstation l),

and back to the loading station.

The construction of a carrier 10 is best:

. shown in Figs; 3, 6, 7 and 8. The carrier has a rear connecting member 11' consisting of rigid side bars 12 joined by: tie rods 13 and a includes large front connecting member 14:which is similar except that its side bars15 are slightly closer j together than those of the rear connecting;

member. A number of'traysQO' are'mounte' onthe connecting membersll, 14. Each tray i has on itsbottom two spaced cross 'bars'21f havingdepending' tabs 22, near their front; ends. The tabs 22 are pivotedon the tie rods 1 16 of the front-connecting. member 14 while p V the rear ends of the cross barsQl are pivoted on the tie rods 13 of the'rearconnecting mem-f ber. 11. The distance between the adj acent tie rods of each connecting member isequal to, r i

the length Z of one of the trays 20 so thatthe 7 trays may beibrought into edge-to-edge shown in'Fig.8'. By spreading'the'connect ing members apart, the trays may-be brought into superimposed relation. The connecting members serve to keep the trays parallel in all positions thereof. Supporting members are hingedto the upper tie rods 13a, 16a of the rear and front connecting members outside the side bars of the connectends of the lowest'tie rod 165 ofthe front ing members. The supportingo members like the cross bars 21' have depending tabs '32 which are pivoted on the upper'tie rod 16a so that the supporting members are always parallelto all the cross pieces 21 and to the vtrays Eachsupporting member is provided withtwo flanged wheels of which the rearmost33 facesoutwardlywhile the front one 34 faces inwardly. Projecting along the axes of the front wheels 34 are fingers 35 each rovided with two grooves 36,37. At the connecting member are apair of outwardly facing flanged wheels 38 which lie wholly inside the supporting surfaces of the wheels upperpairs of wheels33, 34 aresupported on the samehorizontaltrack, each tray of the carrier will be horizontal, and thatwhen the lower wheels 38 are support-edon atrack slightly below that supporting the upper wheels, the trays will be in edge-toedge relation in acommon horizontal plane, while when the lower wheels are supported on a track'- substantially below the level of that upports' the "upper wheels, the trays v draws GZIZCll-fGELIIlBI past-the 'loadlng station will'be in Superimposed relation;

"Tracks are provided for supporting and guiding the carriers by; engagement with their wheels; There is an. upper track 40;f0r

the upper wheels 33, 34, and a lower track 50 of slightly narrower gauge for the lower wheels 38.

The arrangement of the'tracks 40, 50 may best beseen in Figs. 1A, 1B, 1C; The tracks have'horizontal portions41, 5-1 extending under the loading st ationfL in substantially the samehorizontal plane. In theupper part of the treatmentspace T, the tracks have hori "zont al portions 42, 52which are spaced apart a in a vertical'dire'cti'on'bya distance less than the'length of the connecting membersof' .thecarriers. 1 The loading portion' 51 and;

the upper treatmentportion 52' of the-track 50am connected by a downwardly inclinedportion' 'In the lower portion of] the L treatment spaceT, thetracks have spaced,

horizontal portions 44, "54. Horizontal {exg tensions 45, '55 ofthe portions 44, 54pxportion ofion'e of the chainsof-ithe 'conveyer tendacr'oss the dumping: station 1). Just should be noted that whenever thetwo' behind the dumping station l), the tracks 3 have vertical portions 46, 56 lying in substantially the same plane. The portion 46 starts just above the junction of the portions V 44 and of the track 40 and'extends up ward,to the pointy 47 abovethe loading portlon 41'ofthis track. The vertical portion 56of the track extends from just above the vjunction of the horizontal portions 54, of this track to apoint 57 below the point 47, with a short interruption at 58 net above ajunction oft-he horizontal portions 44, 45 of the-track 401. A downwardly in,- I

clined;portion.,49 connects the upper end of the vertical portion 46 of the track 40 with th'efrontend' of its loading portion 41 while 7 an upwardly inclined portion 59 connects the l upper end-of the vertical portion 56 of the of its leading portions 42, 52 of the tracks to the ends of the portions 44, '54. Two pairs of kickers move the carriers on and off the elevator respectively.

The moving means will be described in the orderin which they operate upon a ca.r-' rier in its circuit through the apparatus.

'A load conveyer 60, consisting of a pair of chains passing over sproc-kets61,"62 and providedwith flights 63 which engage the outer grooves 36 of the fingers 35 50f the carriers,

L andinto the. upper portion. ofthe treatment space T. To prevent the carriers from runnlng forward underthe nfluence of grav- 1ty as their lower wheelsdescend the 1nclined'track 53, the flights 63 0f the load conveyer are made double, and each consists of a part 63a which lies in front of of the 'lowertr-ack, the rear part. 63b1of the flights 63 'is hooked so thateach. of them extends over the finger. 35 which it engages, v and; chaincovers 600 are provided 'to hold down theiportionsofthe chains of the conveyer 60' located just beyond the inclined 1 portion'53 ofv the lower track. One'of these chain covers 60c is shown diagrammatically in Fig." l-Band in detail in Figs. 4 and 5 7 The chain cover 600- compl'etely encloses-a Y 7 of one of the chains oft-he elevator.

60 but is provided; with alongitudinal slot 60d in itsupper surface through which the flight members 63a and 63?) project to enpassing over sprockets 71, 72 and provided with flights 73 which engage the inner.

grooves 3701 the fingers of each carrier,

draws the carriersthrough the upper per- The upper.

tion of the treatment space kicker 80, consisting of a pair ofarmsfSl positioned to engage the outer grooves 36' of the'fin'gers 35 of each carrier, moves the carriers from the port1ons'42, 52 of the-tracks 40, onto the elevator 90. The elevator 90 consists of a: pair of chains passlng over sprockets 91, 92 and provided with horizontal track segments 93 94 which carry the up per and lower wheels 33, 34, 38 of each carrier as it is pushed off the end of the portions 4:2,52-of the tracks, and lower the car-- -rier until its wheels are on a level with the ends of the portions 4 1-, 54 of thetracks.

Each of the track segments 93, 94 is secured to pivots at the two ends of one of the links These pivots consists of cross bars 90a extending from one'chain to the other. Each track secp, tion is provided with a leg 93a which rests on the next pivot ofone of the chains below the cross bars 90a, but is not attached to this pivot. The upper reaches of the elevator chainsare supported on bars 95. This flar-V rangement lnsures maintalnlng horizontal those of the track sections 93, 94*wh1ch are 011 the descending reaches of the chains. At the same time, the iiact'that the legs 93a of the track sections are not connectedto' the chain pivots on which "they rest leaves the links'of the chains free to'pa'ss around the flights 113 which engage the lowest tie rod ltaof the rear connecting member .14 of each carrier near its outer ends (see Fig.6) moves the carriers through the lowerportion of the treatment space T. A dump spacing conveyer 120, consisting of two chains passing over sprockets 121 and sprockets 122, which are co-axial'with and of the samesize as the sprockets'112, and'provided with a pair, of flights 123 which engagethe tie rod 16?) of each carrier at'a dlstance from its ends, draws the carrlers across the dumping sta- 1110111). A dump'elevatlng conveyer 130, consisting of two chains passing around sprockets 131, 132, .over. sprockets 133, 134,

and under sprockets 135, and provided with Alower treat- 1 ment coneveyer 110, consisting of chains pass ing over sprockets 111,112 and provided with douloleiflights 136 which engage theinner g1'ooves37 of the fingers35 of each carrier,

moves'the carriers vertically, upward at the dumping station andv then back to the load? ing station. The sprockets 134 have arecess 138, for the flights 136 (Fig. 2). The flights 136 of the conveyor130 are made double,

like those of the load conveyer 60, toprevent the carriers from running ahead by gravity when their :upperjwheels pass down the inclined portion 49 of the track.

The speed of the conveyers is so related that the trays move past theloadingstation closely spaced in single file, and through the treatment space closely spaced multiple file, while the. carriers are spaced apart at the dumpingjstation. v In order that each carrier may be positively guided and timed throughout its circuit, and, for this purpose may always be in engagement with one or another of the conveyers, the flights of the different conveyers are spaced'apart by dis tances proportional to the rates jot movement of the conveyers.v 'Thus taking the length of a tray as the'linear unit and the number oftrays in each carrier as n, the rate of; movement of the load conveyer is n linear units per unit of time and its flights 63 are n linear units apart; the 3 rate of movement of the treatment conveyors 70 and llOcis one linear unit per'u nit of time, and the flights of these-convey ers'are spaced one linear unit apartg'while the rate of movement of the dump conveyers 120 and 130 is greater than n linearunits per unit of time. In the formshownfthe number of trays in each carrier is seven,and'therate of movement of the dump conveyers 120, 130 is sixteen linear units per unitof time and the flights of these conveyers are'sixt'een linear units, apart. .In this connection, it ShQUlCl'flOG noted that as the. load spacing conveyer 120;has only one'pairof flights, the

1611 Of chainsof (10111 8 61118 SlX- i v teen linearunits. The kickers and rotate. at the rate of one revolution in one time unit, that isto say, they each make one revolution while the treatment conveyers are moving through a distance of one linear unit. They rotate-in the same direction onehalf cycle apart. -The. elevator 90 has an inter mittent movement, being held stationary during the lower part of the revolution of the upper kicker, 80 and the upper part of the revolution ofthe lower kickerlOO, and moving through a distanceequal to thelength o'iithe connecting members of the carriers during the upper part of the the upperkicker 80,; g p r Various forms of known mechanism may be used tomovethe conveyers at the proper. relative rates above specified. Mechanism suitableforf .this purpose is shown inthe; drawings and consists of .well-known me 7 chanical elements gonnecting-amain driving,

shaft 140 with each or-tiieaiayas andwithj the kickers; Special mechanism forgiving the elevator an 'intermittent'movement is hereinafter described; v

The mechanism for driv ng 1A, 1B, 1C, and as all theparts of this mechanism are well-known mechanical elements,

,it will be sufiicient to list the parts driving each 'conveyer. The load conveyer is driven from the shaft 140 through .the following parts: worm 65," gear 66, sprocket 67,

chain -68, sprocket 69, sprocket 62. The drive i of the upper treatment conveyer includes the following parts :shaft 140, worm 75, gear 76, sprocket 77, chain 78, sprocket 79, sprocket 72. The drive offthe upper kicker includes: shaft 140, worm 75, gear 76, sprocket- 85, chain 86, sprocket 87. The connection a veyer 110 includes: shaft 140, worm 115, gear 30 116, sprocket 117, chains118 (with intermebetween the shaft 140 and the elevator includes: worm 75, gear 76, intermittent mechanism 195' (hereinafter described), sprocket 96, chain 97, sprocket 98, sprocket 91.

eludes: shaft 140, worm 75, gear 76, sprocket The drive of the lower kicker in- 85, chain 86, sprocket 87, sprocket (on shaft of upper kicker 80), chain 106, sprocket 107. The drive of the lower treatment con- 'diate sprockets 118), sprocket 119, sprocket 112. The drive of the dump elevator convever 130 includes shaft 140, worm 115, gear i 110,-sprocket 137, chain 138,-sprocket 139, and

sprocket 132. Thedump spacing conveyer 120is drivenv from the dump elevator conveyer through: sprocket 131,-sprocket 125 (fixed on same shaft) chain 126,- sprocket 127 sprocket 121.

The intermittent mechanism 195 connecting the gear 76 and the sprocket 96,'which, in. connection with the stoppingmechanism controls the movement of the elevatori 90, is

,l shown in Fig. 11. It consists of a: gear 141 fixed on the sameshaft as the sprocket 76, a

gear 142 fixed on the same shaft as the sprocket96. and an intermediate-gear 143. As the sprockets 85 and 87 are the same size, the gear 141 rotates in unison with the upper kicker 80; The gear 141 has a toothed portion 141a which engages the gear 143 and through it controls the movement ofthe elevator during a little more than one-half of each revolution of the gear 141, andafa blank portion-1415 which passes over the teethof the gear 143 to permit the elevator to remain at rest during the remainder of each revolution-of thegear 141, Theblank portion 1415 of thefgear 141 is -'adjacent to the gear 143 during the lower part of each revolution of the upper kicker-80 and the upper part of each, revolution of the lowerl-ricker 100. "Sto'pping mechanism is provided toihold theelevator stationary while the blank portion 1416 of the gear 141 is" oppositeth'exgear 143 so --as* topermit the conveyors Y is clearly shown diagrammatically in Figs. f'

the "upper kicker 80 to moveacarrier upon.

the elevator and the lower kicker 100 to move a carrier off the elevator-during this part of the operation. The stopping mechanism shown in Figs. 10, 9 and 10includesa pair of hooked levers 144 journalled on a short shaft 145 located between-the two reaches of the elevator, so that the hooks 146 of the levers "may engage the cross bars 90a of the elevator.

The rear ends of the levers 144 are provided with cam followers 147 engaging grooves-in;

cams 148. The cams are mounted on a cross shaft 149 located between the reaches of the elevator chains, and rotated in synchronism with the gear 141 andvthe kickers 80 and 100 by a chain connection 149awith the shaft of 1 the lower kicker 100. The grooves in the cams 148 are formed so as to'bring the hooks. V 146 into thepath of the cross bars 90a on the;

upper reach of the chain when the blank portion 141?) 'is'oppo'site the gear 143 and so as to'tipfthe hooks below the 'path'of these crossbars while the toothed portion 141a,of .the

gear 141 is'in engagement with the gear 143.

' During the periods in which the elevator is not held stationary by the lock bar, the V petent builder, and the particular form of such supporting means is not a vital featureof the p-resent invention. A practical means for supporting :the tracks and working parts is however indicated in 6. A-supporting frame shown consists of two vertical side frames 150 which may be stiifenedgby crosspieces 151, 15.2,;positioned so as not to interfere with the movement of the carriers. The tracks 40, 50 may be-supported on brackets 1 53 extending inwardlyfromthe side frames. Ifdesired,the lowest portions '54, 55. on the lower track 50, may be supported on shoes 154, mounted on the cross pieces 152,instead 'of on brackets.

The various'sprockets for the driving cha ns'and conveyerchains may be 'mounted on shafts extending between the side frames and journalled therein To avoid twisting stralns on these shafts, the Cll'lVlHig chalns and the1rsprockets,'as well as the conveyer chains andv sprockets, may 3 be :arranged in pairs .as-shownin Fig".- 6.

Supports may be provided under the long reaches of the-"conveyer chains toiprevent them from saggin particularly'where the chains areiso positioned that. they would strike something,.if they sagged. Thus "as shown in Fig.6, supports 156,157 maybe provided to prevent the upper and lower reaches .ofthe chains of the lower treatment conveyor 1110 from striking the cross pieces 1'52 and the floor 1158 of the apparatus.

"The apparatus which should be used for loading the trays at theloading station L depends upon the nature ofthe material to be treated. 7 If this material is of asomewhatyiscous nature, the loading apparatus: may include a chute L1, a roller L2 at the bottom of the chute, a scraper L3 to scrape material from the roller and direct, itinto the trays, and a leveler L4 whose lower edge L5 is close to the top of the loaded trays, and serves to level off the material therein. The apparatus for receiving the material'at the dumping station D may consist of a hopper D1 at the bottom of which is a screw conveyer D2. r

For certain treatments of the material such as drying, it is desirable to have the treatment space T enclosed. This may be done by a sheathing 160 having sides 161 covering the side frames 150, an end wall 162 just beyond the dumping station D, a horizontal wall 163 extending from the end wall 162 overlthe sections 45, 44 of the track 40, an end. wall 164 extending upward from the horizontal wall 163 just behind the loading station L,-

. I and just in front of the inclined section 53 of the track 50,.a top wall 165 extending from the wall 164 to the rear end of the apparatus just above the section 42 ofthe track 40, and an inclined wall 166 under the ele-i vator 90. The entrance opening 167 of the, chamber is formed in the wall 164 where the tracks 40 and 50 are in substantially the same plane, and the height of this opening is ap-. proximately that of one tray. The upper edge of the entrance opening 167 mayserve as the leveler L4. The outlet opening 168 is formed in the wall 163,ju st in front ofthe vertical portions 56 and 46 of the tracks,; where these portions are in substantially the same plane. The width of this opening is an proximately the same as the height of the; entrance opening. The only other openings required in the sheathing are the small openings necessary for the passage of the various shafts, and theconveyer 70, and an opening for the passage of the screw conveyer D2. Thus, notwithstanding the continuous operation of the apparatus,'the treatmentspacemay be so completely enclosed that the at mospheric conditions desired for the treat- 7 ment of the material may easily be maintained therein. 7 V

The operation of the'device described is as follows 7 A number of carriers 10 equal to the number of pairs of flights on the active reaches of the conveyers are'used in the apparatus. The main driving shaft 140 is driven from: any convenient source of power. such as an electric motor 170. as shown in Fig.1B and. the'roller L2 of the loading device and the worm at the'dumping station are also con-=' tinuously power-driven. Tne carriers are i brought in succession from the dumping station by the dump elevating conveyer 130,

wheelsdrop overa jog171 in the track 40,

just in [front of the loading device. As the f carriers-reach this position, they are picked up successively by. the loading -conveyer 6O whose-flights are so spaced that the front edge of. the front tray of each carrier follows closely behind therear edge of the rear tray of the preceding carrier (see Fig. 2). Asthe carriers pass under the loading device therefore, their trays form a continuous traveling support upon which material maybe cona-tinuously discharged from the scraper L3 and upon which it may be level by the leveler L4. Each carrier enters the treatment space. through theopening 167 with its. trays. in,

edgc-to-edge relation in a common plane, but I as soon as the lower wheels 3801?v the carrier reach-the inclined portion 3530f the track 50, their connecting members 11', 14 separate, placing their trays in stepped superimposed relation. By the timeeach carrierisin this condition, itsupperwheels have been pushed up a jog 172 inthe'track40 and released by the loading conveyer 60. 'Inthisposition each carrier is picked up by a flight of the conveyer 70,: and moved forward with the front edge of each of its trays .close to the rear edge of the corresponding tray'of the preceding carrier, so that, in the upper pertion of the treatment; space, the trays form a set of: superimposed continuous traveling rate'dby a'distance sufiicient-tov permit the circulation of air or other gasibetwcen-them for. the treatment ofthe material. As each carrier approaches the end of the portions by, the kicker 80; With its wheels s pported fon these track segments, it .descendsrapidly in a, direction parallel to its connectlng members, so. that the trays vmove in single, file, until the track segments are in alignment with theends of the tracks 44,. 54. It is then pushed onto the ends ofthes'e tracks by the kicker 100, and its wheels slide-over jogs .173

veyer 110. In the lower part'of'the treatment space, the carriersmove in the opposite, direction from; thatin-which they moved in the upper part of the space. Inithe lower part ofthe space, also,'the trays of the carriers form asetof continuous traveling sup-. ports located in closely spaced horizontal planes As the lower wheels 38 of each care Tier arrive directly over the axis of the smpckets 112, 122, the carrier isengaged by the single ime pickers-123 of the spacing 'convey'er 120, ,and moved iforwardfirapidly yacrossthehopptr Dl at the dumping station. I On} being} released. by thesepickers, it is- ;stopped by engagement ofits' lowerwheels 38 with ebumpers 174 nearithe' ends of l the supports whiclrare closely "spaced but .sepa

'42, 52 of the tracks, it ismovedrapidly onto the track segments 93, 94 of the elevator 90,

' horizontal-portions .55 of the track 50; This *hri'ngs its upper wheels in frontof the verti- I i'cal'portions46; 56 of the tracks; Assoon as the 'ca'rrier reaches this position, its'fingers are engaged by a pair of pickers of the "dump elevating conveyer 130, which raise If? its-front upper wheels 34 vertically along the vertical portion-460i thetrack ;j As soon 'as this-movement has lifted itsrear upper "wheels 33'clear of the portion of the track 40, its rear connecting member 11 is no longer j supported and falls against its 'front connecting' member 14, bringing its trays edge- "to-edge in the inclined plane of the connecting IIie mbeI$, SOtl1at part of the material 'contained in' the trays' is dumped into the hopper D1. As the upwardmovement of the front upper wheels 34 of the carrier conj tiniies, itslower wheels'38 roll back along the horizontalipo'rtion of the track 50 ine1ini g' the common plane of the trays'more I it and' moresteeply, :and dumping more and more of the material from the trays into the Shopper. 'YVhen the wheels 34 of the carrier have been raisedto a distance labove'the hori-' zonta l' portion '55-of the track 50 equal to the I length of theconneeting' members of the car- 'rier,- the connecting members and the trays hang vertically, and the last of the material on 'the'trays falls into the hopper. movementzof the'dump elevating conveyor I '3'O'is solra'pid that as the connecting mem- 'f bers o-fthecarrier approach a'vertical position, they swing backwardlcoming against a 1 cross piece 156a between the'tra'ck sections 56 with a decided bump which hasthe effect of shaking outja'ny material which may tend to adhere to thetrays; The entire carrier. is

then *drawn vertically upward with itswheels38 as well as its wheels 34 in engagement with the vertical portion 46 0f the track 40*, and its lower wheels 38 in engagement "with the vertical portion '56 of the track 50 The backward movement of the lower end of the carrier takes place while "the'picke'rs 12 3 ofthe'conveyer 120 are returning alongthe lower reach of'this con- 'veyer, and by'the time these pickers engage and draw forward the next carrier, the preceding carrier has been raised sufficiently to *bring itsflo'wer' end above the portion 45 of;

*the track 40. After each carrier has been Vraised along the vertical portions 46, 5610f the'tracks, the carrier is returned to its in? itial position by the conveyer130. The connecting portions 49, -59 of the tracks along which the carrier passes in'this movement;

" turn from a vertical into a' common horizontal plane, so that the trays of the carrierare brought 'froin' edge to-edge relation in a vertiealfplane to edge' -to edge relation in a hori- *Z'ontal plane. Thespeed of the 'conveyer'1 3O "is so much greater thanthat of the *eonveyer 60that the front end of each carrier 1s- 'oebroughtto the jog 171 in the track 40 'by the The tions,and means for moving said track track, collapsible carrier's each having "wheels adapt'ed to engage one of the tracks; an: elevator el tonding across the ends of the tracks and havingtracksections of length r si'ifiieient'to support the two wheels ofleach conv eyer just as the rear'endof'thepre whichis being moved by the -*conveyer 60, reache's this point; Thus the ceding earrler,

carriers, after being spaced apart" during th-eirengagement with the dump :conveyers,

1'20 and 130, are brought again into closely spaced relation at the loading station. e V

VV'hat is claimed is: i 1 v H 1. In apparatus for handling materials, the combination of upper and lower tracks,- a plurality of carriers, means for moving carriers slowly in closely spacedrelation along .the upper track towards the .end thereof,

means for moving carriers slowly :in closely spaced relation alon the lowertrack away from' the end thereorpan elevator extending across the ends of the tracks and having track sections, means for moving the-elevator intermittently so that it comes to rest when two of its track sections are in alignment with the two tracks, means for iinoving' the foremost 'carriero'n one'tra'clr away from the following I g 7 sect on of the elevator, and'means for simultaneously moving-a carriers. and onto a track carrierfromanother track-section of the ele-r u vator onto'the other track and placing it close behind the rearmost carrier on'that track.

p 2. In apparatus'tor handlingmaterials,the combinationof an upper track and a lower track, a plurality otcarriers; means for:mov-' mg the carriers in closely spaced relation alongthe'upper track toward the one thereof,

means for imoving thecarriers :in closely spaced-relation valong the lower track away 7 from 'the' end thereof, a descending elevat extending across theends otthe tracks ancl having track sections, means for inter ttently locking the 'elevatorsivhen twee-fits track sections are in alignment with th-otwo tracks, and' neans operative"simultaneonsly 'to move the foremost carrier onthe'upper track away from the. following carr and onto a'traclrse'etionfof the elevator and to lmove a carrier from another track section sec- 7 tionsfroni ali-gnment withonetracl: to

ment with the otliertraok.

hecombinaticih of an upper and lower two carrier, and means for moving said track 4; In apparatus for handling materials,

seetionsfrom'alignment with one upper track to alignment with the other'track. it Y '5. In apparatus for handling materials;

' rigid connecting members hinged to said supporting member, a wheel on one of the con-' the combination with an upper pair of supercomprising a rigid supporting memberhavrails to maintain parallel to said rail, two

nesting members engaging the other rail and separated by the first mentioned rail by a distance greater than the distance between the rails so that said connecting member is inclined to the rails and carrying elements riers each having horizontal carrying eley ments and an inclined connecting-member having wheels engaging both thetracks or one set, of an elevator comprising a conveyor extending across the ends of both sets of tracks in a direction parallel to the connecting members of the carriers, and horizontal track sections secured to said conveyer;

7. In apparatus for handling materials, the combination with a plurality of-carriers each having two coiinecting members and carrying elements hinged tolthem in parallelogramarrangement and an upper set of tracks'and a lower set of trackseach adapted to support the carriers with their carrying elements f' horizontal and their'connecting members inclined, of an elevator-comprising a conveyer extending across theends ofthe tracks and parallel to the connecting members of the carriers, and horizontal track sections carried by said conveyer and lying in horizontal planes separated by the samedistance which separates the upper and lower trackslof each set of tracks. V I

'8. Apparatus for handlingmaterials, comprising a plurality of carriers each having a connecting member and a number of parallel carrying elements inclined to the connecting member and held in stepped relation thereby, means for moving said carriers successively in a direction parallel to their connecting members at a relatively highspeed and theii in a direction parallel to their carrying elements at a relatively low speed,

9. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising a plurality of carriers eachhaving two connecting members and carryingelemerits hinged thereto in parallelogem arrangement, means for moving each carrier first horizontally and then in a direction at an acuteangle to the horizontal, and means for maintaining the carrying elements of each movement s. mg two spaced wheels running on one of the icarrier horizontal and the connecting memmposed rails and a lower pair of 'super imposed rails and a plurality of carriers each bers of each carrier parallel to the direction of the second movement, throughout both 10. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising a plurality of carriers, means for guiding the carriers in a closed circuit,and

means for positively 'moving each carrier throughout the circuit, comprising a plurality of moving means interconnected indeof movement and positioned to engage acarri er when released by the preceding moving means.

11. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising a plurality of car'riers, means for.

guiding the carriers in a closed circuit, means for positively moving each carrier through out the circuit and for "spacing the carriers differently in different parts ot'the clrcuit, comprising a common driving means, and

conveyers driven therefrom'at' different rates 12; InJapparatus for, handling materials a plurality of carr ers having carrying ele-' nents, a conveyer adapted to move the carriers slowly in closely spaced relation through a treatment space, a rapidly moving convever itforward to a dumping'station, a second rapidly movingconve'yer adapted to engage 'ea'ch'carrierat the dumping station and to adapted to engage each carr'ier as itreaches, i

the end of the treatment space and to inove'100 move it toward a loading stat-ion and 'to re-f it forward past theloading station at such a rate that its rear end is just infront of the front end of the following carrier released.

1- by the second rap-idly moving conveyer.

13.- In apparatus for handling materials,

" the combination'with a carrier having wheels at each ofits ends, of two tracks having senarated ends and converging until they lie substantially in the same horizontal plane,

and a continuo-usconveyer positioned to enmove it along the tracks with itsupper and low-er wheels supported thereon, so that it'is broughtinto a horizontal position.

14. In apparatus for handling materials, the combination with acarrier having pairs of wheels ofdiflerent gauges at its opposite 7 to a downwardly inclined portion andahor-v izontal portionbeyond the inclined portion,

atrack of the other gauge having a vertical- Y portion substantially co-planer with the vertical portion of the first track, a horizontal portion substantially co-planer with the horizontal portion of the'first track'and' an in-,

clined portion connecting the vertical and horizontal portions, and a' continuous conv'eyeradapted to engagethe carrier and move its upper wheels along the first track from the vertical portion thereof to the horizontal portion thereof. while the lower wheels of the carrier are supported by the second track,

so that the carrier is brought from a verticalposition to a horizontal position during such movement. v I

'. Apparatus for handling materials,

- comprising a plurality of carriers each hav- 1 upper track, means for changing the 'c'arry- 7 and transferring them backto the first track,

so that they move in a-closed circuit, means for tipping up the carry ng elements of-each carrier as it is transferred from the lower trackto the upper track to dump material from the carrying. elements, means for'placing the carrying elements of each carrier in acom'mon horlzontal plane as they reach the ing elements of -each 'carrier from edge-t0- edge relation ingthe'common plane to super- 7 imposed relation in spaced horizontal planes asthe carrier is moved along the upper track;

" ment and wheels at'both'ends of the'conne'ctand means for retaining the'carryin'g elements OfGELCh'CELlIlGP in such superimposed track;v V i v r I 16. Inapparatus for handling materials, an; elevator comprising an inclined chain conveyer and horizontal track sections'eachsecured to both ends of one link of the convey0r,and a leg on each'track section resting onanother link of" the conveyer.

17. In apparatus for "handling 'materia ls, an elevator comprising a non-horizontal chain conveyor, and horizontal supports each secured to both ends of'one link ofthe conveyor and each'having a rigid projection resting against another link of the conveyor;

-18. In apparatus for handling materials,

an elevator comprising a pair of inclined conveyor chains, apair of cross-rodsconnect-' ring botlrends of a pair of corresponding links of the two chains, horizontal track sections eachsecured to one end of both the said crosswo ds, and a leg on each track section resting on a link of one of the chains behind 7 said cross-rods; I

'19. In apparatus for handling materials, an elevator comprlsmg a pair of inclined conveyer chains, a pair of cross-rods conne'cthook.

ing both ends of a pair'of corresponding links of the two chains, and horizontal track 7 sections each secured'to one end-of both of t said cross-rods. r

20.-In apparatus for handlingmaterials, an elevator for transferring carriers from vertically separated tracks, comprising a pair of conveyer chains'and cross-rods extending between said chains, drivingmeans for moving said conveyer intermittently, 'a stop for the conveyer, and means for moving said stop into the path of said cross-rods when the driving means permit the stopping of the elevator.

21. Invapparatus for handling materials, comprising a plurality of carriers, means for-guiding the carriers in a closed circuit lying in a vertical plane, means for positively moving each carrier throughout the circuit and for spacing thecarriers differently in different parts ofthe circuit, comprising a common driving means, and conveyers driven therefrom at different rates of speed and each provided with flights spacedin p'ropor- 1 tion to its speed and positioned 'to engage each carrier as it is releasedby the flights of the preceding carrier, the flights of the conveyers' which engage the carriers in the de 'scending p'arts of the circuit being formedto prevent the carriersfrom: moving forward under gravity in advance of. the "conveyer V movement.-

22, In apparatus forhandling. materials,

the combination witha carrier having connecting members and carrying. elements hinged to them in parallelogram arrangethe combination with a carrier having co'nnecting members and carrying elements hinged to them in parallelogram arrangement and wheels at its upper and lower ends and a projecting finger near its upper end, of a horizontal track for the-upper wheels, a downwardly inclined track for the lower wheels, a conveyer chain, a hookon said conveyer chainad'apted to engageand extend over the finger of the carrier, and a plate above the conveyer chaln preventing up- I ward movementof thechain and its hook and contammg a slot for the passage of the I r r 24. In apparatus for'ha'ndling niaterials, Y

the'combinationlwith a carrierhaving con ment, of means for moving thecarrier with p the lower ends of its connecting members inupper ends of both connecting members and at the lower end of one of them, of upper and lower horizontal tracks for supporting the upper and lower wheels of the carrier separated by a distance less than the length of riers horizontally at an upper level in one direction and horizontally in the opposite direction at a lower level, means for causing a collapsing and re-opening ofeach carrier during one of said horizontal movements, means for transferring each carrier from one level to the p other and maintaining its carrying elements horizontal during such transfer, and means for preventing a collapsing of each carrier during such transfer. 1

In testimony whereof I have hereuntoset my hand. V

' I I JOHN H. V IGKERS. I

the carrier, means for advancing the carrierv along said tracks with the lower ends of its connecting members inclined forward, raising means adapted to engage the carrier and move its rear upper wheel upwardly so rapid- 1y that its lower wheels leave the lower horizontal track before the carrier swings to a vertical position, and means for suddenly arresting the swinging of the carrier when it reaches the vertical position to jar material from its carrying elements.

26. In apparatus for handling materials,

the combination with a carrier having two connecting members and carrying elements hinged to them in parallelogram arrangement and wheels at the upper ends of both connecting members and at the lower end of one of them, of upper and lower horizontal tracks for supporting the upper and lower wheels of the carrier separated by a distance less than the length of the carrier, means for advancing Y the carrier alongsaid tracks with the lower ends of its connecting members inclined forward, two vertical tracks lying in a common plane, and raising means adapted toengage the carrier when its upper end has just passed said vertical tracks and to move its rear upper wheel upwardly along one of the vertical tracks so that its rear lower wheel moves rearwardly along the lower horizontal track and then upwardly along one of the vertical tracks. r

27. In apparatus for handling materials, an elevator comprising an inclined chain conveyer, horizontal track sections each secured to a single link of the conveyor and running perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the V conveyer, wheeled carriers each'having connected carrying elements, and means to move said carriers onto and off said track sections.

28. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising a plurality of collapsible carriers each having two connecting members and car- 'rying elements hinged thereto in parallelo-' gram arrangement, means for moving the car- 

